How did domes and arches affect roman civilization?

Answer 1

It helped them to build the buildings that they built. The use of the arch meant that they could build higher and bigger because the arch carries the load. This allowed for underwater systems to be built, the first mall, apartment houses, and other things. It also gave more interior space when the arch was used. Along with the invention of cement the Romans did wonderful buildings and designs.

Answer 2

The roman arch allowed the construction of one of the most famous ancient buildings of all time. The colosseum. The arch was a clever design that was both light weight, supported itself evenly and due to the hollow centre, used less of the material which minimized the cost of it all. The arch made the construction of the colosseum much more easier. If they didn't use the arch, and they used solid blocks instead, then it would make the building heavier, harder to move around. Apart from that, the arch was also very attractive.

Answer 3

The Arches were triumphal arches. They were built after victories in battle. After a victory, the victor celebrated a triumph when he got back to Rome.

Arches stated being erected by victorious generals during the Late Republic at their own expenses and without needing permission. With the establishment of rule by an emperor, Augustus decreed that only emperors could be granted a triumph and that arches had to be built by decree of the senate. Triumphal arches became a tool for Propaganda to impress people, enhance the prestige of the emperor and to show off his power. They were monumental structures with reliefs and statues depicting scenes of the battle.

The columns were also triumphal monuments and served the same purpose. They were a different way of impressing people

Answer 4

In ancient Roman architecture the arch played a major role in construction projects designed by Roman engineers. The arch was used in bridges to connect roadways over a river or small valley, in temples such as the Pantheon, in amphitheaters such as the Colosseum and the arch was used extensively in building aqueducts to bring fresh spring water to Rome and other cities.

Answer 5

The Romans were first to fully appreciate the advantages of the arch (which has a strong load-bearing capacity and provides stability) and the vault (adjacent arches which are assembled side by side). The vault did not originate from the Etruscans - the earliest example has been found in the Greek city of Pergamon, in western Turkey). It has an even greater load bearing capacity and its structure is suited to support large roofs. The arches and the vaults came to be used extensively for the first time. They became essential for the construction of large scale buildings, to support large roofs and to build basements. The Romans also invented a new and much stronger type of concrete, which also helped with large scale construction vault. The building of the Colosseum was made possible by the use of the arch, the vault and concrete (as well as stone).

The Romans invented segmental arch (a flatter arch in which the curve is a less than semi-circular segment of a circle). They realized that an arch did not have to be a semicircle. These arches were used regularly for houses, warehouses and bridges. Limyra Bridge in south-western Turkey had 26 segmental arches. Its 27th arch at the eastern end collapsed and was replaced with by two smaller, semi-circular arches.

With the use of the arch and concrete the Romans were able to build bridges which were much longer than before and could cross much wider rivers and valleys. The longest one was Trajan's bridge, which crossed the river Danube and although it was only functional for a few decades, it was the longest arch bridge in both total and span length more than 1,000 years. It was 1,135 m (3,724 ft.) long, 15 m (49 ft.) wide, and 19 m (62 ft.) above the water level. When they needed very high bridges, the Romans built them with two or three tiers of arches to reach the required height. The Pont du Gard, a bridge for an aqueduct which supplied Nimes, in southern France is the greatest example of a multi- pier bridge. It has three tiers of recessed arches with the main piers in line one above the other. The first two tiers have very high and wide arches and a third tier has low and narrow arches. It was built to carry an aqueduct to Nimes in southern France. It reaches a height of 48.8 metres (160 feet). The lower tier is 142 metres (466 feet) long and has six aches with a height of 22metres (72 ft.). The second tier is 242 metres (794 ft.) long and has eleven arches 20 metres (66 ft.) high. The upper tier is 275 metre (902 ft.) long. It originally had 47 arches (only 35 have survived) 7 metres (23 ft.) high. The width of the first pier is 6 metres (20th.), that of the second pier is 4 metres (13 ft.) and that of the third pier is 3 metres (23 ft.).